Teacher battles breathing condition on climb to Everest Base Camp

A Salford teacher and a team of adventurers have raised thousands of pounds by climbing to Mount Everest base camp.

Hospitality and Catering teacher, Michael Hales, 40, who teaches at Salford Community College, returned from the trek on Sunday with his team mates after spending 14 days climbing to the South Base Camp.

Michael, who suffers from a damaged vocal cord which prevents him from inhaling a normal amount of air, prepared for the expedition by spending time in an oxygen chamber at the Ellis Brigham climbing store in Manchester.

He said: “My breath is like the half of a normal person, it doesn’t open properly.

“My doctor said that this trek was a big risk to take so I think the altitude training definitely helped.”

Despite the extreme cold, team members Jay Standish, 28, Simon Edlington, 47 and Jennifer Edlington, 37 climbed to the 11,290 ft camp, crossing over the Khumbu Glacier in the process.

L:R - Michael, Jay, Jennifer and Simon

Michael said: “The pictures don’t do it justice. I mean just to be there for the view – talk about clearing your head and giving you a different view on life.

“Our team leader Jay came back with a bit of a tummy bug one day but the team rallied around him and he dug deep.

“It was actually the hardest day, a really steep climbing day but that’s what a team is for – moral and physical support.